Few leaders can claim as great an influence on a country as Lee Kuan Yew can on Singapore. The 91-year-old is considered the founding father of the small Southeast Asian nation, having led it from a colonial trading post into a regional and global financial powerhouse.
Born in Singapore in September 1923, Lee graduated with a law degree from Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, but returned to his native country in 1950 despite being admitted to the English bar. He became Singapore’s first Prime Minister in 1959, a position he held until 1990 — making him the longest-serving Prime Minister in global history.
During that time, he guided the country out of British colonial rule and through a union with Malaysia, which Singapore broke away from in 1965, to become fully independent.
Lee became Minister Mentor of Singapore in 2004, a position created by his eldest son, third and current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Here’s a look at Lee Kuan Yew’s life, in pictures.
Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew (1923-2015), seen in 1969.Michael Stroud—Getty ImagesThe General Secretary of People's Action Party of Singapore and the new Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew congratulated by his supporters in 1959.
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty ImagesPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in conference with Labor leaders during strike threat in 1965.Larry Burrows—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and family at official residence of "Sri Tamasek" in 1965.Larry Burrows—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at home with his family playing Chinese chess in 1965.Larry Burrows—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesLee Kuan Yew in 1965.Larry Burrows—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew during May Day celebration in 1965.Larry Burrows—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesSir Alec Douglas Home, former British Prime Minister meets with Lee Kuan Yew, in London, 1969.Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty ImagesCommonwealth Prime Ministers Conference at Marlborough House, London, in 1966.Roger Jackson—Getty ImagesPremier Lee Kuan Yew with visiting British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1985.Peter Jordan—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images Lee Kuan Yew with President Obama in the Oval Office in 2009.Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images Lee Kuan Yew in 2005.Jonathan Drake—Bloomberg/Getty Images
